Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

A Ministry of Health review three years after euthanasia became legal might re-ignite debate. The Ministry is asking people to share their thoughts on the Act. It says 344 people had an assisted death in the year to March 31. General Practice NZ chair, Bryan Betty, says the Act is working as designed. But he says some groups and people still strongly oppose it, despite its rigorous safeguards. "Th...

A vigil for the victims of this week's deadly stabbing in Southport was disrupted by protestors, resulting in destruction and injuries. Protesters, believed to be supporters of the far-right English Defence League, threw bricks at a local mosque, set vehicles on fire and threw bottles and bricks at police. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says unconfirmed reports about the 17-year-old behind the attack...

New home consents have fallen to the lowest point in five years. Stats NZ figures show fewer than 34,000 new homes were consented in the year to June - a 24 percent fall annually. Consents for multi-unit homes, including townhouses, apartments, retirement village units and flats are down 28 percent. Construction sector advisor Mike Blackburn says this downturn has impacted the whole country. LISTE...

US-based frozen potato giant Lamb Weston's profits have been dropping, off the back of a rocky financial period for the company. This is off the back of the company's shares falling almost 50 percent over the course of 2024. Milford Asset Management's Stephanie Batchelor unpacks this downturn. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One expert has claimed there are upsides and downsides to the Government's changes to finance laws. From today, the Government is dropping prescriptive affordability regulations from the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act. NZ Herald Wellington business editor explains whether these changes will make it easier on Kiwis looking to buy their first home. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday July 31, one expert joined Andrew Dickens to discuss the risks that come with the Government's moves to roll back the hurdles needed to get a loan. Former Health NZ chair Rob Campbell says hospitals are important - but it's essential to ensure preventative health services are properly funded. International relations expert Rober...

The ACT Party's had a stoush with the Speaker of the House - over a party lapel pin. During Question Time, ACT's Todd Stephens was denied his question after refusing to remove the pin, under Parliament rules forbidding party logos. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls weighs in on the 'pin-gate' controversy. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Media Insider's Shayne Currie and Infrastructure New Zealand CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! New developments in the Polkinghorne murder trial, with the case featuring testimony around an orange rope found in the Remuera home where the incident happened. What do we make of this? Health NZ has appointed four new dep...

The costs of sending Kiwi exports overseas has risen significantly amid escalating tensions in the Red Sea. A report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said global shipping rates have nearly doubled since late April - but they remain below the peak reached during the Covid pandemic. Export NZ executive director Josh Tan says this is an 'external shock' that runs the risk of impacting i...

The men's triathlon is finally set to begin, after safety concerns stopped the athletes in their tracks. Hayden Wilde and Dylan McCullough are poised to compete in the men's event tonight after it was postponed yesterday due to water pollution. Olympic commentator Lavina Good says technicians have tested the water in the Seine and assured the athletes that the bacteria levels are fine. "The French...

Day three of Phillip Polkinghorne's murder trial has featured testimony around an orange rope and investigations after the death. Polkinghorne is accused of killing his wife, Pauline Hanna, in 2021 with debate in court today about a rope found on scene. The Crown claims the rope hadn't enough tension for Hanna to use it take her life,  but the defence says Polkinghorne loosened it when he found he...

An international relations professor believes the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh brings considerable risks to Israel. Hamas has released a statement, saying the 62-year-old was killed in an Israeli 'raid' on his home in Tehran. Iranian analysts have immediately blamed Israel for the attack, but Israel is yet to officially comment. Otago University professor Robert Patman, says Haniyeh was on...

A former chair of Health New Zealand says health crisis solutions won't be found in hospitals. The health agency's appointed four deputy chief executives to be accountable for regional hospital services and budgets. The Government last week appointed a Commissioner to take over its board, citing cost blow-outs. Former chair Rob Campbell says hospitals are important - but they are the end stage of...

From today, strict loan affordability regulations are gone from the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act, henceforth known as the CCCFA. This ends the bizarre inquisitions into your personal life the banks indulged in before denying you a loan. This is good news for first home buyers, obviously, but the people most affected were those trying to get smaller loans. The grilling you got to get t...

The acting head of the Secret Service was grilled in a lengthy hearing about the security failures that led to Donald Trump getting wounded during the infamous Pennsylvania rally. At a lengthy US Senate hearing, Ronald Rowe outlined the ongoing investigation into the incident, including the lapses that led to the shooting. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson said the hearing became quite tense, with p...

There's growing concerns from expert as the Government rolls back some restrictions needed to take out a loan. From today, The Government has removed affordability regulations from the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act and updated the Responsible Lending Code. Money Sweetspot co-founder and CEO Sasha Lockley says relaxing these requirements means more people are at risk of getting into deb...

After 12 years of playing international rugby, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe is craving normality. The 33-year-old Black Ferns sevens star is retiring from the international game with two Olympics golds and a silver following her latest Paris triumph. Woodman-Wickliffe scored more than a try a game in almost 250 sevens appearances for New Zealand - but she's happy to step back from the spotlight. Sport...

Two children have been killed and nine others injured after a deadly stabbing attack in Southport, north of Liverpool. Six young victims have been left in critical condition and police have arrested a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. UK correspondent Vincent McAviney says Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the King and Queen are among those who have sent their sympathi...

The Government's highly-anticipated tax cuts are set to kick in from tomorrow.  Despite initial concerns about inflation, Finance Minister Nicola Willis is hopeful these cuts won't have an impact.  Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen explains whether or not these changes will bring inflation back up. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Long-serving agri-business journalist David Anderson died aged 57 in Timaru on Friday. Due to illness, Anderson had stepped down as managing editor with Rural News in April. The Country's Jamie Mackay pays tribute to him here today. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand is ditching its carbon intensity reduction targets and will withdraw from the Science Based Targets initiative.  It planned to cut carbon intensity 28.9 percent by 2030 - but blamed a lack of fuel-efficient planes and the costs of alternative fuel for this shift in priorities. NIWA climate scientist Sam Dean says Air New Zealand didn't have a lot of choice in this situation. "Funda...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 30 July 2024, court reporter Chelsea Daniels recaps what Philip Polkinghorne told police about what happened the night before his wife died. The triathlon at the Olympics has been postponed just hours before it was due to start because of bad water quality. Gold medal favourite Hayden Wilde's coach Craig Kirkwood tells Andrew how...

The Associate Health Minister says the $216 million set aside to fund tax cuts for tobacco products is unlikely to end up costing that much. The Government has implemented a 50 percent cut to the excise tax on heated tobacco products - which are viewed as an alternative to vaping and traditional cigarettes. Minister Casey Costello says the modelling had been based on Japan's use of heated tobacco...

There's hopes new flight technology will give aviation a needed boost. Two new satellite dishes now operating in Invercargill will collect data used to improve GPS accuracy. It will let pilots land planes in weather conditions currently deemed too dangerous for some flights. Land Information Minister Chris Penk says the days of waiting around for fog to clear may well be over. "As the technology i...

Hayden Wilde's coach is hoping for a better forecast tomorrow after a postponement stopped him in his tracks.  The men's triathlon event, originally scheduled for 6pm tonight, has been delayed to 8.45pm tomorrow due to the Seine failing water quality tests this afternoon. Craig Kirkwood won't deny this is frustrating - but he was prepared for this. "We've had two days of fine weather and we're ont...